Judd at MoMA
Donald Judd, a man who ironically refused to label himself a sculptor, revolutionized the art world throughout the latter half of the 20th century with his commanding stacks and minimal, three-dimensional artwokrs. True to Judd's reclusive nature, as the world remains in quarantine, the curators of The Museum of Modern Art have found a unique way to pay homage to the late artist - whose career-spanning retrospective opened at MoMA in late February, only to be shut down a few weeks later - by creating a virtual exhibit that explores his many guises as an art critic, philosopher, sculptor, and intellect; prior to pursuing a formal career as an artist, Judd explored art criticism and was a voice in the advocacy community, often vouching for land preservation and sustainability within the broader community.
Judd’s virtual exhibit is showcased through images of his revolutionary sculptures, audio clips from colleagues and contemporary artists, his personal journals and critic-based writings, and interviews with MOMA curator Anna Temkin - who describes Judd’s sculptures as “a spacial, visual, phenomenon” - as well as the artist's son, Flavin Judd. This encyclopedic approach to understanding Judd’s creative mind leaves viewers impressed and surprised by the artist's expansive career as not only a sculptor, but a writer, critical thinker, and social visionary who was never afraid to push the status quo and reveal his inner creative expressions.
This virtual exhibition offers a refreshing digital experience to those interested in learning about Donald Judd’s creative process in its entirety. Through connecting his artwork to his personal experiences as a writer and activist, viewers are sure to be endlessly engrossed in his radical vision.